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Welcome to The Checkout by Kuro House, your daily AI-powered retail and tech update. Today, we’re diving into some fresh moves from major players reshaping the retail and fintech landscape. From furniture profits to fintech stablecoins, and record-breaking sales to job risks, we’ve got you covered.
First up, DFS Furniture has raised its profit outlook after a solid first half of the financial year. According to The Retail Bulletin, group order intake rose 2.3%, with both DFS and Sofology brands contributing. Underlying pre-tax profit before brand amortisation is now expected between £43 million and £50 million, beating consensus estimates. They also announced Dominique Highfield as their new CFO, joining from Bloom and Wild this May. CEO Tim Stacey emphasized their focus on scale, data, and culture to drive growth in a flat market.
Next, Klarna is making a bold fintech move by launching its own stablecoin called KlaraUSD. The Retail Bulletin reports this stablecoin will run on Tempo, a blockchain built specifically for payments by Stripe and Paradigm. Klarna aims to use KlaraUSD primarily to streamline costly and slow cross-border payments, not to replace everyday shopping transactions. This move marks a pragmatic shift in crypto adoption, focusing on real-world financial plumbing rather than hype. If successful, Klarna could set a precedent for other fintech firms to embed stablecoins as back-end infrastructure.
In workforce news, Asda is facing criticism for plans to outsource distribution of its George clothing brand. Retail Gazette reveals that outsourcing to DHL could put over 1,200 jobs at risk, consolidating operations into one depot in Derby. Asda insists the move only affects online fulfilment for George.com, with physical store distribution continuing as normal. The company says the change supports growth ambitions for George to become the UK’s largest clothing retailer by volume. Meanwhile, the GMB union calls for transparency from Asda’s private equity owners about their long-term plans.
Majestic has delivered its best-ever Christmas performance, bucking the trend in a shrinking alcohol market. Retail Gazette reports a 0.9% rise in total sales over the festive period, despite a 4.1% decline in the wider off-trade sector. Customer numbers surged by 10.9%, helped by five new stores and a growing commercial supply business. Majestic also saw record trading days on December 23rd and Christmas Eve, driven by expert in-store advice and tastings. Leadership credits strategic investments and a curated product range for this strong momentum heading into 2026.
Finally, impact.com announced record growth and innovation throughout 2025, solidifying its lead in partnership marketing. Retail Times highlights that the company is on track to surpass $270 million in annual recurring revenue, up 20% year over year. They powered nearly $120 billion in partner-referred sales and launched AI tools like a conversational chatbot for real-time insights. impact.com also expanded globally with new leadership hires, offices, and enhanced product features for creators, affiliates, and advocates. This growth reflects a major shift toward community-driven commerce and data-powered marketing strategies.
That wraps up today’s edition of The Checkout by Kuro House. It’s clear that innovation and strategic shifts continue to drive change across retail and fintech. We’ll keep tracking how these stories evolve and impact the market. Thanks for listening, and catch you tomorrow for more AI-powered insights.
